From ancient verse to modern sports beneath spring blossoms

As people stroll through the streets and alleys of Hebi, Henan province, drifting white cherry blossom petals greet them with signs of a vibrant spring. With each gentle gust of wind, soft petals fall in flurries, carpeting the ground and settling softly on shoulders and hair, immersing visitors in a fairy-tale scene. Wrapped in blossoms, the city opens itself to those eager to experience spring at its most vivid.

This year, the opening ceremony of the 2026 Hebi cherry blossom festival cultural and tourism promotion event was held in the city on April 2. Running through April 20, the event features interactive experiences, performances and markets, with a focus on integrating culture, technology and tourism.

Ding Xiaocui, deputy head of the culture and tourism bureau of Qibin district, Hebi, says this year's event deeply integrates the culture of Shijing, or the Book of Songs, an ancient Chinese collection of poetry from the 11th to 6th centuries BC, into a citywide blossom-viewing experience. It also brings in sporting elements such as pickleball, offering visitors a spring cultural and tourism feast that is "sightseeing-worthy, engaging, shoppable, and immersive".

She says Hebi is rich in cherry blossom resources. The city now has more than 300,000 cherry trees in 87 different varieties. Along Huaxia South Road in Qibin district, over 23,000 renowned cherry blossom trees bloom in succession along a stretch of more than 4 kilometers.

Wang Junwei, deputy director of the Hebi Cherry Blossom Culture Association, says the city's connection to the flower dates back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC). Cherry trees were planted at the imperial palace in Zhaoge, then the capital, located in present-day Qixian county.

Wu Erchuan, general director of the event, says in Shijing, 39 poems mention the Qihe River, Hebi's mother river, underpinning the city's long-standing ties to this ancient classic. This year, Shijing is woven throughout the program. For instance, visitors can recite or read poems from the book to gain free access to selected cultural and tourist attractions. They can also enjoy dance and musical performances inspired by Shijing, join poetry gatherings, and explore a Shijing-themed painting exhibition.

"We hope that during the cherry blossom season, visitors can not only enjoy the cherry blossoms across the city, but also immerse themselves in the vibrant artistic and cultural ambience that fills every corner of our urban landscape," says Wu.

Hebi is systematically advancing the development of a full industrial chain for pickleball, and the sport features prominently in this year's event. At the opening ceremony, robots staged a pickleball performance, while a national competition featuring 21 teams is taking place during the festival.

"Cherry blossoms are beautiful but they are static. We wanted to find a way to combine the dynamic with the static. This means that in parks, visitors can watch people playing pickleball while enjoying the blossoms, experiencing both vitality and beauty at once," says Wu.

In addition to the blossoms, cultural markets have been set up along the cherry blossom viewing areas, offering local delicacies, cultural and creative products, and even flea markets where visitors can exchange secondhand goods.

Since its launch in 2015, the cherry blossom event has become a signature annual highlight for Hebi, drawing tourists from across the country.

"With a blend of poetry, sports, technology, and local culture, the event continues to evolve, offering something new each year while staying rooted in the city's rich heritage," says Wu.